Magasin Vietnamese - (Napoleon review)

I saw that this place was recommended already, and I saw a review or two. First off, congrats to them on the location. A decent place can survive on Magazine on merit alone, and its surprising that a street known for good restaurants and shopping was lacking a single Vietnamese restaurant.


Gambit Article

really good NOLAdefender article on this place before it opened

I know many people see Pho as a fad, but these restaurants are so much more than Pho. Actually I may have only eaten Pho ten times in my life, but I eat Vietnamese almost weekly. You don't always eat Blackened Redfish when you eat Cajun, nor Pasta when you eat Italian. But certain dishes sometimes overtake the cuisine and become what every thinks of or associate with that cuisine.

We all know we have long had a large Vietnamese population. Some of you lucky enough to have FEMA trailers (sarcasm) noticed the instructions were in the usual English and Spanish followed by Vietnamese. Even so it seems just recently that Vietnamese became a popular option. With places like Pho Orchid, and Pho Nola, and Tuong Trac opening up. Each makes good Pho and Bun and has their own twists. Magasin though stands out from the rest.



First off, visually its very different. From the outside it looks like almost any other place on Magazine, through the windows it looks like it could be a coffee shop or a sandwich place. You walk in and it is very minimalist. A few tables, a couple of bar tops to sit at. Exposed flooring, and ceiling, no art, white walls. Very low thrills yet very clean. As we all know many of our favorite Asian restaurants; while good, have Kitchens and prep areas of questionable cleanliness (Do you really like to think of Young's 26 violations in the last 11 years?). This place on the other hand wants you to see what they are putting into the food, and lets you watch them make it if you wish to do so.



The person at the counter uses an iPad instead of a regular POS machine(which seemed to make entry harder).




There was a large window where you could see all the Spring Rolls being rolled. You could also see the flat press where meats were reheated (most Vietnamese Restaurants cook the meat prior to your order and re-heat it for dishes requiring Smoked, grilled or Baked proteins) you also see all their greens and veggies. Further in the back, but mostly out of site is a busy kitchen with meat over fire and pots of broth cooking.


The Menu is on the Wall, and it is a large one, multiple Phos, Buns, and rice dishes, tons of springroll choices some appetizers (including Pot-stickers and Crab Rangoons) and salads.


You order, get a number on a stick, place it on your table and sit down.

At this point I realized a major flaw... There wasn't enough Sirachi and Hoisin to go around. People were going from place to place asking to grab the bottles. I think I saw five of each in the entire place. They need to go out and make sure their is at least one bottle for every table and every four seats at the stools. That was crazy. Then no Sambol Olek (Red Pepper Garlic sauce, has a rooster on it, you spoon it out, lots of crushed red pepper in a paste), not a drop. Every Vietnamese place offers Hoisin, Sirachi, Sambol Olek and Soy. They really need to get more condiments. Possibly they were just busier than they expected to be, because this place had a crowd the whole time I was there and a steady line. I'm sure the line will move faster once they get their iPad point of sales down and the ordering.
Yeah I forgot about that, you order by name of dish here, not a number like at many places. But at least they use westernized names.
Like Bun Xi Bo, is just called BBQ Pork Bun.



I ordered a BBQ pork Bun(Vermicelli noodles) and a Pork and Pate' Bahn Mi.

Food came out pretty fast, and it was really nicely presented. The vegetables and Herbs were very flavorful, and fresh. The meat was perfectly seasoned and the Rice Noodles were at the best consistency.


Very very good. Maybe $1.50 more than what it is at most other places; but that's nothing considering the location. (Pho is $2-3 more)


The Bahn Mi was also excellent, can't beat a $4.00 sandwich. The Pate didn't have a flavor that really stuck out. The Pork was excellent, as were the topping pickled vegetables. The bread itself was the always good Duong Phoung bakery bread and was buttered prior to being filled.




I really like this place. I already eat the heck out of Vietnamese food and enjoy the flavors and combinations. The menu is so large I only had a small sample of what all they have. I want to go back next week and get the Filet Mignon Pho, a Spring Roll and maybe this weird Green thing.



All in all this place was very good. Not ready to say its the best, because I haven't tried enough of the menu. But the total package is nice, the location is convenient. The service is good, the food is excellent and the price is right. I can see this place staying for a long time and hope it does.

I like their Bamboo forks, I guess for those who don't do chop sticks, at least they make the act of using a fork a little different and Asian.


If you are in the Garden District area and are craving Vietnamese, definitely check this place out.
Urban Spoon